Unitree G1 Robot Learns Like a Human and Reacts in Real Time

Unitree has just taken humanoid robotics to another level with its newest G1 robot demo. The compact humanoid wowed audiences by becoming the first to pull off a standing kick-up — a move that takes serious control, flexibility, and precision. This is not a pre-programmed stunt. It is the result of rapidly evolving learning algorithms that let the robot adapt like never before.

In one test, the G1 was lying face-up with a bag covering its face, and yet it still managed to get up — no vision, no problem. In another, it was kicked while walking and handled the surprise impact like a champ, rebalancing instantly with human-like reflexes. You can actually see it think and react.

All this starts in a virtual world. Using Nvidia’s Isaac Simulator, Unitree builds a digital twin of the robot, studying real human movement through motion capture. From there, reinforcement learning kicks in, helping the G1 master new behaviors virtually before ever trying them in real life. That transition from simulation to reality — known as Sim to Real — is smoother than ever.

As for hardware, the G1 stands 4.33 feet tall, weighs 77 pounds, and moves with 23 degrees of freedom. It is powered by a 9000 milliamp-hour battery that lasts up to 2 hours. With a walking speed of 4.5 miles per hour, 3D LiDAR, depth cameras, and a voice-activated mic array, this robot is seriously advanced.